Oedipus order of events

1

Oedipus emerges from his palace at Thebes to see what's up. He's aware that the city is under a curse.

2

Oedipus talks to a priest, tells him not to worry, and lets him know that Creon, Oedipus's brother-in-law, is off seeking the advice of Apollo.

3

Creon returns and Oedipus learns that in order to rid the city of the curse, the murderer of the former King, Laius, must be discovered and expelled from Thebes.

4

Oedipus promises to save the city

5

Oedipus curses the murderer and demands information from anyone who knows about the crime.

6

Oedipus asks Tiresias for help

7

Teiresias informs Oedipus that it was he (Oedipus) who killed Laius.

8

Oedipus accuses Creon and Teiresias of framing him in order to seize the throne

9

Oedipus threatens Creon with death.

10

Oedipus summons and questions a servant who escaped murder at the crossroads where Laius was killed.

11

Oedipus learns from a messenger that his father has just died of natural causes.

12

Oedipus concludes he could not have killed his father but is still worried about sleeping with his mother.

13

The messenger tells Oedipus that the King of Corinth and his wife, Merope, were not Oedipus's real parents. Unable to have a child themselves, they adopted Oedipus.

14

Oedipus was discovered with his feet pierced and tied by a shepherd who then gave the wounded infant to the messenger. Oedipus learns the man who originally found him is still living.

15

Jocasta realizes Oedipus is the son she tried to kill

16

Oedipus ignores Jocasta's suggestion that he drop the issue. He's confused when she runs off screaming.

17

Oedipus questions the old shepherd who found him. With lots of threatening, he gets some information.

18

Oedipus pieces things together and realizes that Jocasta is his mother. As predicted by the prophecy, he has slept with his mother and killed his father.

19

Jocasta commits suicide

20

Oedipus blinds himself and exiles himself from Thebes